The day on which the Ganesh frequencies reached earth for the first
time, that is the day on which Lord Ganesh was born is the fourth
day (chaturthi) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of
Magh. Since then, an association between Ganesh and chaturthi was
established.

Video: Installation and Immersion of Ganesh idol

Note: Commentry is in Marathi.
Description: What is the importance of Ganesh Chaturthi? Why new
idol of Lord Ganesh is established at every year? Information on
Siddhivinayak vowed religious observarance and Aarti. [^Top]

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Installation and
Immersion of Ganesh idol

Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi:

A. Since the frequencies of Ganesh and those of the earth on
the fourth day (chaturthi or Ganesh Chaturthi) of every fortnight of
the Hindu lunar months match, they are favourable to one another.
This implies that on that date, a greater quantity of frequencies of
Ganesh can reach the earth.B. Chaturthi means the turiyavastha, a state beyond the
states of waking (jagruti), dream (svapna) and deep sleep (sushupti).
This itself is the target of a seeker.

C. The holy text Agnipuran' prescribes the vowed religious
observance (vrat) of chaturthi for acquisition of worldly pleasures
and the Final Liberation (Moksha). [^Top]

Types of
Ganesh Chaturthi:

The fourth day (chaturthi) of the bright fortnight of each Hindu
lunar month is called Vinayaki and that of the dark fortnight is
called Sankashti.

A. Vinayaki : The ritualistic worship on this day does not
include viewing the moon and worshipping it like sankashti. On the
day of Vinayaki, one fasts the whole day through and ends the fast
only the next day. The deity of this vowed religious observance (vrat)
is 'Shri Siddhivinayak'. Vinayaki is performed for well-being and
prosperity.

B. Sankashti : On this day, one should observe a complete
fast the whole day. In the evening after a bath, one should make
preparations for the ritualistic worship of Lord Ganesh. In the
night after looking at the moon, either an idol of Ganesh or a
betelnut placed on a mound of consecrated rice (akshata) symbolic of
Ganesh, should be worshipped with sixteen substances (shodashopchar
puja). Twenty-one rounds (avartans) of the Atharvashirsha should be
recited. One should pay obeisance to the moon after giving an
offering and sprinkling sandalwood paste (gandha), flowers and
consecrated rice in its direction. On the day of chaturthi, the
offering should be made in a circular shelving metal dish (tamhan).
One should eat only after the holy sacrament which consists of five
delicacies (mahanaivedya) is offered. The deity of this vowed
religious observance is 'Shri Vighnavinayak'. Sankashta means sankat
(crisis). The 360 frequencies which are emitted from the core of the
earth surround us and thus slow down the body processes. This itself
is called a 'sankat'.In the dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month,
these 360 frequencies are more active. This obstructs the flow of
energy through the channels (nadis) in our body. Sankashti is
performedto overcome this crisis. Ganesh controls the 360
frequencies. Hence by worshipping Him, one is released from the
bondage of these 360 frequencies.[^Top]

C. Angaraki : The chaturthi which falls on a Tuesday is
called Angaraki. Angar means the planet Mars (Mangal) or earth(bhumi).
Ganesh is the presiding deity of Mars just as He is of the earth.
Ganesh and Mars, both have the same complexion.On the day of
Angaraki, the Ganesh frequencies reach the earthin greater
quantities and those from the Mars too reach the earth.
Consequently, most of the frequencies emitted from the moon are
destroyed. Hence the benefit obtained by performing 'angarika
vinayaki' and 'angarika sankashti' is equivalent to that obtained by
performing all the vinayakis and sankashtis respectively, throughout
the year. Angaraki unlike other vowed religious observances (vrat)
is not performed throughout the day and night. It is an observance
lasting for five prahars (one prahar is a period of about three
hours), four during the day and one at night. According to the
ritual, a meal should be taken at moonrise. Thus that meal becomes a
part of the ritual and is not partaken to conclude the fast. [^Top]

Common
Doubts and scientific Spiritual Clarification

Q. Why is
there a need for a new Ganesh Idol?

Answer: Despite having an idol of Ganapati that is routinely
worshipped, a new idol is brought for Ganesh Chaturthi. The reason
being , during the period of Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganesh frequencies
reach the earth in very large quantities. If these frequencies are
invoked in the usual idol of worship then that idol will imbibe a
tremendous amount of energy. To worship such an idol by meticulously
observing all the norms of ritualistic worship throughout the year
is a difficult task, since, one has to follow the restrictions of
ritualistic worship (karmakand). Hence a new idol is installed to
invoke and imbibe the Ganesh frequencies and is then immersed. The
proportion of sattva, raja and tama components in the Ganesh
frequencies is 5:5:5 while that in an average person is 1:3:5. This
makes it difficult for an average person to imbibe Ganesh
frequencies for a long time. [^Top]

Q. What
is the proper duration of the ritual of Ganesh Chaturthi according
to the scriptures and local customs?

Answer: 'An idol of Ganapati is sculpted from mud on the fourth day
(chaturthi) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of
Bhadrapad. It is placed on the left palm and is consecrated with the
name Siddhivinayak. According to the scriptures, it should be
ritualistically worshipped and immersed immediately thereafter.
However, since man enjoys celebrating festivals, he was not
satisfied with this and began festivities by keeping the idol for
one and a half, five, seven or ten days. Many people immerse
Ganapati along with Gauri. If the Ganapati idol has to be worshipped
for five days according to one's family tradition of spiritual
practice (kulachar) yet one can worship the idol for one and a half
or seven days if one desires so. One need not ask an authority in
Spirituality before doing so.

Answer: If a part of the idol breaks before consecrating it with
divinity or after showering it with consecrated rice (akshata) to
withdraw divinity from it before immersion, then there is no need to
worry. If a part of the idol is damaged before its consecration then
the idol should be replaced by another, whereas, if it is damaged
after the divinity is withdrawn , the idol should be immersed as
usual. If the idol is damaged after consecration, it should be
immersed after showering consecrated rice on it. If this occurs on
the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, one should worship a new idol. However,
if this occurs on the second or third day of Ganesh Chaturthi, there
is no need to do so. If the idol is damaged completely then, with
the advice of the family priest, one should perform the 'Adbhut
Darshan Shanti', a ritual for peace in the family, according to
one's convenience. If ill-omen like falling of a lit lamp, breaking
of the grinding stone, flowering of a cress tree, damage to an idol,
etc. occur, they are indicative of an impending financial loss, a
serious illness or an untimely death in the family. Hence, the above
remedy should be undertaken with faith (shraddhaa).'
[^Top]

Q. Why
looking at the moon is prohibited on Ganesh Chaturthi?

Answer: Looking at the moon is prohibited on this day because the
moon is the cause of the mind, that is it provokes the mind to
operate. However a seeker wants to attain thoughtlessness. In the
constellation of planets, just as the moon is unstable as it has
phases of waxing and waning so is the mind unstable in the physical
body. Looking at the moon increases the instability of the mind by
1/1,00,000 times. Only when the mind becomes thoughtless does one
attain the turiyavastha. On sankashti, after doing spiritual
practice the whole day, the moon is viewed at night. This is an
indication for the mind to return to the usual state after doing
spiritual practice that day. The story connected with this in the
Purans (mythological texts) goes thus. Once the moon ridiculed
Ganapati saying, What a big belly You have, Your ears are like
sifting pans, that trunk is weird and those eyes are so tiny !' So,
Ganapati cursed it, Henceforth no one shall look at your face.
Whoever does so will be accused of theft.' Accordingly everyone
began to avoid the moon. So it could not go anywhere. Living in
seclusion is very difficult. Hence, the moon appeased Ganapati by
performing austerities and pleaded for mitigation of the curse. When
reducing the intensity of a curse, the main curse should not be
destroyed. Both the curse and its mitigation should be present in
certain proportions. It is not appropriate for Me to destroy a curse
given by Me completely.' Thinking thus, Ganapati mitigated the curse
given to the moon by saying,' None shall look at you on the day of
Ganesh Chaturthi. However on Sankashti Chaturthi, no one will eat
their meal without looking at you.'
[^Top]

An Ideal Ganesh Festival

How to please Lord
Ganesh & invoke His Blessings

In ancient days, the rituals performed with spiritual emotion and the science
behind them were the main part of the festival rather than external decoration.
Unfortunately today, this aspect is overlooked while celebrating religious
festivals. The idol should assimilate the Ganesh principle. A few years ago, in
Kolhapur, Maharashta and Margao, Goa, the Ganesh idols worshipped in the public
celebrations were in the form of Saints, Swami Samarth of Akkalkot and Shree
Saibaba of Shirdi respectively. In Kalyan, Mumbai, Lord Ganesh's idol was
created from medical appliances. The trunk was made from syringes, the ears from
kidney trays, the crown from saline bottles, the hands from gloves and the eyes
from capsules.
[^Top]

According to the Science of Spirituality, every deity represents a specific
principle. According to the doctrine of Spirituality, sound, touch, form, taste,
odour and energy co-exist. Thus, the form of the deity should be such that it is
able to attract maximum frequencies of the deitythat is worshipped. If this
doctrine is not followed while making the idol, the frequencies of the deity do
not assimilate in the idol, and the worshipper is not benefited by its
ritualistic worship. Today, it is noticed thatmost of the times Ganesh idols are
sculpted without considering these facts. Worship of such idols is wrong.
According to the science of idols, an idol of Ganapati should have one tooth and
four arms. The three hands should hold a noose, a goad and a tooth
respectivelyand the fourth should be in a posture endowing blessings. The belly
should be large and the flag should adorn a symbol of a mouse on it. The ears of
the idol should be like sifting pans, and the deity should be seated on a wooden
seat with a crown on its head.
Losses caused by giving a social form to a religious festival:

The Ganesh festival today, even though being a religious one, has proved
detrimental to both Righteousness (Dharma) and society. Many people desire that
the sanctity of a religious festival should be preserved. Rituals like moving
lit lamps (arti), ritualistic worship (puja), making offerings to the deity (tirtha
prasad), paying obeisance to The Lord, listening to songs in praise of God (kirtan)
and discourses should acquire a significant position in the celebrations. Funds
accumulated should be utilised for the spread of Spirituality.

Some examples of propagation of Spirituality are as follows -
1.Cleaning, repair, maintenance and renovation of neighbouring temples
2. Assisting in celebrating religious festivals in nearby places of pilgrimage (tīrthakshetra)
and temples
3. Assisting individuals and organisations that aim at fostering Indian culture
(sanskruti)
4. Assisting organisations in the study of the Vedās and the science of Yoga.
5. Providing assistance in cash or in kind to organisations propagating
Spirituality, e.g. lending a sound system for a discourse at a nominal rate or
free of charge.

Has your local
festival achieved this aim?

A religious festival is a religious ritual celebrated collectively in the
society to provide rest to the body and happiness to the mind, especially social
happiness. One should be able to experience happiness from Nature and fine arts
through such festivals and help man to go beyond self (self centredness) and
blend with society at least to some extent. Religious festivals unite people who
normally do not come together in their day-to-day life, setting aside all
discriminations - of financial status, caste and class, literacy, etc. Make this
Ganeshotsav a time to unite and be righteous!
[^Top]

Evils prevalent in the Festival: Worship that
hurts the Lord!

Video: Malpractices in Ganesh immersion procession

Note: Commentry is in Marathi.
Description: Malpractices during Ganesh immersion procession, Experience of
common public about procession.

Video: Malpractices in the Ganesh Festival:
Part 1

Note: Commentry is in Marathi.
Description: Why Ganesh festival is celebrated publicly? Other topics -
Malpractices during Ganesh Festival like money demanded with force for Ganesh
festival. Saints guidance on present state of festival.

Video: Malpractices in the Ganesh Festival:
Part 2

Note: Commentry is in Marathi.
Description: Malpractices during Ganesh Festival like pollution of sound during
Ganesh festival, strange and fearful demonstrations, record dance, Action taken
by police against malpractices, Saints guidance about the programs during Ganesh
festival.